Mac compatibility
Can you play Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2 on a Mac?
Short answer: No. Garden Warfare 2 runs EA Javelin Anticheat, a kernel-mode Windows driver that Wine-based tools like Grapple cannot run.
What we know
Steam's store page for Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2: Deluxe Edition discloses that it uses a kernel level anti-cheat, EA Javelin Anticheat.
EA describes its anti-cheat as running in kernel mode on Windows, which is the deepest part of the operating system. Grapple is built on Wine: it runs Windows programs in user space, without a Windows kernel, so there is nothing for that driver to load into. No Grapple setting changes this.
AreWeAntiCheatYet lists Garden Warfare 2 as denied on Linux/Proton since EA added its anti-cheat.
Steam lists the game for Windows only; its requirements call for DirectX 11. The DirectX version is not the problem here.
Steam lists Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2: Deluxe Edition for Windows only. There is no Mac version.
What to do instead
There are no Grapple settings that get around a kernel-level anti-cheat block, and we won't suggest workarounds that could get your account banned. If the publisher offers cloud streaming, that runs on a Mac; otherwise it needs a Windows PC.
Learn more in our guide to anti-cheat games on a Mac.
Test record
Not tested by us: the block is documented by the publisher or anti-cheat maker (see sources), and we don't try to bypass anti-cheat.
FAQ
Can I play Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2 on a Mac?
No. Garden Warfare 2 runs EA Javelin Anticheat, a kernel-mode Windows driver that Wine-based tools like Grapple cannot run.
Why doesn't Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2 work with Grapple?
Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2 relies on EA Javelin Anticheat, which uses a kernel-mode driver on Windows. Grapple is built on Wine, which runs Windows programs in user space without a Windows kernel, so that driver can't load — and the publisher doesn't allow Wine-based layers. The same applies to CrossOver and other Wine-based tools. Only the game's developer can change that.
Will a future Grapple update make Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2 work?
Not by itself. Anti-cheat blocks like this are decided by the publisher, not by compatibility tools. If the publisher changes its policy, we'll re-test and update this page.
Is there a Mac version of Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2?
Steam lists Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2: Deluxe Edition for Windows only. There is no Mac version.
Sources
Every factual claim on this page comes from these. Spotted something out of date? Let us know.
- Steam store page — system requirements, platforms and anti-cheat disclosure (checked 28 September 2026)
- AreWeAntiCheatYet — Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare 2, listed as "Denied" on Linux/Proton (checked 28 September 2026)
- EA Help — How to install and troubleshoot EA Javelin anticheat on PC (checked 28 September 2026)
- EA Security — EA anticheat deep dive (kernel-mode protection) (checked 21 September 2026)
Got other Windows games?
Plenty of Windows games have no anti-cheat problem at all. Check the list, request a test, or run one of your own games on Grapple's Free plan — it's free forever, and you can swap which game it is once every 30 days.
Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2 is a trademark of its owner and is named here only to identify the game. Grapple isn't affiliated with or endorsed by PopCap.